The Headquarters of the United States Department of Defence, the
Pentagon, has informed the US Congress of the sale of 12 Super
Tucano A-29 ground attack aircraft and weapons to Nigeria to fight
the Boko Haram insurgency.
Reuters reported that the Pentagon communicated the sale of the
12 ground attack aircraft valued at $593m (N181bn) to the US
Congress on Monday.
The report quoted Pentagon’s Defence Security Cooperation Agency
as having made the announcement to the US legislature.
The Super Tucano A-29, “an agile, propeller-driven plane with
reconnaissance and surveillance as well as attack capabilities, is
made by Brazil’s Embraer.”
The US had in April, this year, agreed to sell high-tech
aircraft to Nigeria to tackle the Boko Haram insurgency in the
North-East.
United States officials told the Associated Press that the
Congress was expected to receive formal notification within weeks,
setting in motion the deal with Nigeria.
They added that the arrangement would call for Nigeria
purchasing up to 12 Embraer A-29 Super Tucano aircraft with
sophisticated targeting gear.
The purchase will gulp about $600m, said the officials in April.
They were, however, unauthorised to discuss the terms of the sale
publicly and preferred anonymity on the diplomatic
conversations.
The United States had before this new development, blocked
Nigeria from acquiring the Super Tucano ground attack aircraft from
Brazil in November, 2016 because of allegations of human rights
violations against the Nigerian military.
Recall that the US decided to block the acquisition of the
ground aircraft because of its dissatisfaction with measures
adopted against those accused of human rights violation in the
North-East.
In blocking the nation’s moves to acquire arms and ammunition
against the Boko Haram, the US had quoted the Leahy Law which
prohibits the US defence sector from providing military assistance
to countries involved in human rights violations.
The allegations of rights violation made the US to block the
move of the Nigerian Air Force to acquire the Super Tucano as a
replacement for the ailing alpha jet platform in the ongoing air
onslaught against the Boko Haram.
However, indications emerged in August 2015 when US Congressman
Darrel Isah disclosed shortly after a meeting with service chiefs
in the country in August 2015 that the US had commenced the process
of relaxing the embargo on military assistance to the country under
the Leahy Law.
The Headquarters of the United States Department of Defence, the
Pentagon, has informed the US Congress of the sale of 12 Super
Tucano A-29 ground attack aircraft and weapons to Nigeria to fight
the Boko Haram insurgency.
Reuters reported that the Pentagon communicated the sale of the
12 ground attack aircraft valued at $593m (N181bn) to the US
Congress on Monday.
The report quoted Pentagon’s Defence Security Cooperation Agency
as having made the announcement to the US legislature.
The Super Tucano A-29, “an agile, propeller-driven plane with
reconnaissance and surveillance as well as attack capabilities, is
made by Brazil’s Embraer.”
The US had in April, this year, agreed to sell high-tech
aircraft to Nigeria to tackle the Boko Haram insurgency in the
North-East.
United States officials told the Associated Press that the
Congress was expected to receive formal notification within weeks,
setting in motion the deal with Nigeria.
They added that the arrangement would call for Nigeria
purchasing up to 12 Embraer A-29 Super Tucano aircraft with
sophisticated targeting gear.
The purchase will gulp about $600m, said the officials in April.
They were, however, unauthorised to discuss the terms of the sale
publicly and preferred anonymity on the diplomatic
conversations.
The United States had before this new development, blocked
Nigeria from acquiring the Super Tucano ground attack aircraft from
Brazil in November, 2016 because of allegations of human rights
violations against the Nigerian military.
Recall that the US decided to block the acquisition of the
ground aircraft because of its dissatisfaction with measures
adopted against those accused of human rights violation in the
North-East.
In blocking the nation’s moves to acquire arms and ammunition
against the Boko Haram, the US had quoted the Leahy Law which
prohibits the US defence sector from providing military assistance
to countries involved in human rights violations.
The allegations of rights violation made the US to block the
move of the Nigerian Air Force to acquire the Super Tucano as a
replacement for the ailing alpha jet platform in the ongoing air
onslaught against the Boko Haram.
However, indications emerged in August 2015 when US Congressman
Darrel Isah disclosed shortly after a meeting with service chiefs
in the country in August 2015 that the US had commenced the process
of relaxing the embargo on military assistance to the country under
the Leahy Law.
Read more https://nairalaw.com/bharam-us-sells-n181bn-warplanes-weapons-to-nigeria/